Chikangunya Strikes in Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Department of Health says a Tulsa County resident has tested positive for the chikungunya virus, the first confirmed case of the disease in the state. The Oklahoman who tested positive for the virus recently traveled to Haiti on a mission trip.

The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. The Health Department urges those considering traveling to any Caribbean island, South America, Africa or southeast Asia to take extra precautions against mosquito bites.

Chikungunya virus was found for the first time in the Americas last year on islands in the Caribbean. Symptoms include high fever and severe pain in multiple joints, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and rash.